President Obama at the White House on Tuesday: While awarding

former Polish resistance fighter Dr. Jan Karski the Presidential Medal

of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, the president made the

worst possible gaffe as far as Poles are concerned. Instead of referring

to concentration camps erected by the Nazis in Poland as ‘German’,

he called them ‘Polish.’

‘Polish’ Concentration Camps: ‘A Major Blunder for Obama’ (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)

“I don't know whether the president and his advisers know that the camps were German. But I know that they should know. And they should know how important this is for the Poles. It is not a minor error - but a major blunder.”

-- Wes Mitchell, president of the Center for European Policy Analysis

Interview Conducted By Mariusz Zawadzki of the Gazeta Wyborcza

Translated By Halszka Czarnocka

May 30, 2012

Poland - Gazeta Wyborcza - Original Article (Polish)

President Obama should personally stand up and apologize for his mistake regarding ‘Polish concentration camps’ before it damages Polish-American relations - says Wes Mitchell, an expert on European affairs.

Gazeta Wyborcza: Do Americans realize how important this issue is for the Poles?

Wes Mitchell, president of the Center for European Policy Analysis: Americans understand what a tragedy the Second World War and Holocaust were. A great majority also know that the camps were created and managed by Germans. Many Americans have grandparents or great-grandparents who liberated some of these camps. There is no doubt about that. But how important the matter is for Poles with all its nuances and Polish-Jewish relations - they obviously don't know about these.

Gazeta Wyborcza: And does the White House understand these nuances? I ask because the administration's reaction has been rather anemic. Earlier and on many occasions, President Obama and his people have suggested that America’s future will be decided in the Pacific basin. Europe has been pushed into the background.

Wes Mitchell: I don't know whether the president and his advisers know that the camps were German. But I know that they should know. And they should know how important this is for the Poles. It is not a minor error - but a major blunder. That is why I think President Obama should speak out and personally apologize for his mistake, before it’s too late and before damage is done to Polish-American relations.

Gazeta Wyborcza: So why hasn’t he done so?

Wes Mitchell: Unfortunately, the White House reaction to the gaffe shows an even greater lack of sensitivity than the blunder itself. Obama's people are trying to pooh-pooh the issue, fearing that Republicans will use it in the fall elections. There are already voices saying that Obama is neglecting his old and faithful allies. This would be another argument to shore up this thesis – and also, for Polish-Americans to vote for Romney [the Republican candidate].

Posted by Worldmeets.US

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland: ‘Polish’ Death Camps: ‘A Major Blunder for Obama’
Telegraph, U.K.: Obama Insults 38 million Poles with Crass Remark

Daily Mail, U.K.: Aide Apologises Obama's Calling Death Camp 'Polish'

But I think playing the issue down is a mistaken strategy. It is too late for that - after the such a strong reaction from Poland, a perfunctory statement by a National Security Council spokesman will not diffuse it. What is needed is a strong signal, and quick, because every hour that goes by makes the situation worse.